Product vending machine



Feb. 17, 1948. E. J. NEWCOMER PRODUCT VENDING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR J. NEWCOMER, e 485a AWDRNEYB Feb. 17, 1948.

Filed June '19, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

EVERETT J. NEWOOMER I r l II 53312 55515EEEEEEEEFEFEEE-ii l I I I NGE ATTU RNEYS I Feb. 17, 1948. E, J. NEWCOMER PRODUCT VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 19, 1946 INVENTOR.

EVERETT J. NEWCOMER ATTD RN EYE I PRODUCT VENDING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 q- 9 w u.

9 w o m Q Q. Q Q IIIIIIIIIII'IIII'II'III Q INVENTOR. Q EVERETT J. NEwooMER,

AITD R N EYS Feb. 17, 1948. E. J. NEWCOMER PRODUCT VENDING MACIHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 19, 1946 INVENTOR, EVERETT J. NEWCOMER,

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 17, 19 48 PRODUCT VENDING MACHINll Everett J. Newcomer, Kew Gardens','N. Y., as; signor to City Vending Equipment Corp; Maspeth, Long Island, N. Y

York

Application June 19, 1946, Serial No. 677,891

3 Claims. (01. 312-36) My present invention relates to improvements in vending machines of the coin operated and electrically controlled type, and designed for dis pensing or vending packaged commodities, such as milk, which is hereinafter referred to as a product being dispensed in a container.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a compactly arranged, coin-controlled vending mechanism that is simple in construction and operation, and reliable-for controlling the feeding, delivery, and discharge of a container to a customer.

In carrying out my-invention a horizontally disposed storage and feeding conveyer, iscombined with a delivery and discharge conveyer moving ina direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the feeding conveyer, and the vended container is discharged by gravity to the purchaser.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of these parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete examplejof the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged in accord with one mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. It will be understood that changes and alterations may be made in these mechanical and electricalstructures exemplified in'the drawings withoutdeparting from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical front view showing-the mechanical parts of a unit of'the vending machine in which my invention is embodied, together with portions of the lateral walls of a cabinet in section, and also indicating portions of two other adjacent units of the cabinet.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2 showing the delivery conveyer and discharge chute, and accessories.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view at line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the feeding conveyer in longitudinal section and the delivery conveyer in transverse section.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view at line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing the storage and feeding conveyer and one of its rollers.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view at line 66 of Fig. 2 showing the delivery conveyer, one of its rollers, and journal bearingstherefor.

Figure 7 is an electrical diagram of the wiring and appliances for the operation and control of one unit of the vending machine; and- Figure 8 a corporation of New is an electrical diagram of'the wiring for multiple units when employed in the" vending machine;

In the drawings the operating parts of the vendingmachine are enclosed within a cabinet I of 'suitable'size and shape, which maybe fashioned with adouble "wall"con'struction, and insulated" for 'refrigeratingvpurposes when perishable oods are to be vended. Multiple vending units may be en'closedwithin the same'ca'bine't, but at differentlevels,ior'vending either the same product, or different'products, prepared in'packages or containers. 'For'purposes oi -illustration and description; onesuch unit is herein disclosed, and the product to be vended is referred to as milk contained in a bottle or other container.

The interior operating units at each'level within the cabinet 'aresupported' upon a rectangular, horizontally disposed main frame 2 that is supported in suitable brackets-3 from the walls of thecabinet. p e

For storing and feeding the containers they are first deposited in alined rows upon the upper or conveyer flight of an endless feed belt 4 of rubber, or other suitable flexible material, which belt ismounted to travel over a drive roller 5 and a. spaced driven roller 6, both of which are journaled in bearings 2| supported in suitable manner from the main frame 2.. r a 1 The conveyer fiight of the belt upon which the containers are arranged in right angle rows is intermittently moved to the left in Fig. 4, and guided over a fixed horizontal supporting plate I mounted upon a frame 8 in suitablemanner to insure a level and substantial support for the containers. I

Power for driving theroller 5 is furnished by an electric motor 9 which is supported upon a bracket that depends rigidly from the main frame 2, and power is transmitted to the drive roller from motor shaft l0 through a sprocket wheel I I,

'chain l2, and the driven sprocket wheel [3 of the drive shaft [4 of theroller.

The conveyer flight of the feed belt travels from right to left in Figs. 1 and 4, and a vertically arranged, lateral, guide plate l5 is-mounted on the frame 8 at the rearedge of the belt; a similar guide plate l6 being mountedparallel with the front edge of the conveyer flight, to confine the load or supply of containers, and to prevent their displacement. .7 i J The feed belt withits loadofcontainers, is intermittently moved or mechanically operated under automatically activated electrical control meansfor the motor 5, as will be described.

From the feed belt the containers are fed in successive quantities or rows to a delivery belt ll of a type similar to the feed belt, and the conveyor flight of the delivery belt is also intermittently moved, in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the feed belt, so that the conveyer flight of the delivery belt may deliver a singlejcontain single row being conveyed by the delivery belt.

This comparatively narrow single row delivery belt I! with its conveyer flight supported on and sliding over a fixed plate [8 forming part of 'the main frame 8, is mounted upon a drive roller l9 and a driven roller 2D, b oth of whiehfare journaled in ball bearings}! supported upon parts of the main frame 2. Power is supplied to the shaft 22 of the drive roller I9 through a chain drive including a driving sprocket wheel {ruin the front end of a 23, chain 24, and sprocket 25 operatively connected with the drive .-shaft 26 of an electric motor 21, and themotoris supported in a bracket frame depending ffroin tlie'inrain frame of the unit.

The delivery bjeltfi's offiawidthto' accommodate a single rower cont 'is, andfla lateral guide plate "28, slippd ed'f tlre,hiainframe holds the row of coiitaiiic "in alinemeifitfrom'fr'ont to fear ds 'oi .t i A l fiYibQ t,

-As bestv seen 1, the conveyor flight of thefeed belt y glitly ate'd above the adjoining edge oftlie'de'li t Tandbetween'the two belts isin't' ediate rest plate or transfer, d parallel to and with its convey urfacefilush withltn oonveyer flight bf hejieiblt-l J y k This ti n-$ @Ei 9 ex e s the full width of the reed bel alsoextend the full v sidlr qun dn 'mam trams cix he-masl inelendits front e d terminates at an angular guide wall 3!); fashioned t. t e left and at the latereheside 1- for the ice belt.

The del ver m1; intermittently operated mi der meeban l at. isaaiitoma ca l c: mated t att re-he ,electrcaLcontmls tor the, power sunshine 13030 711, to, reed the front ontainer irq nits sin le row containers. upright position against a :rertically ispo e s m circul r-widowed; that d ivery ht that ismq ie ed I1 t :main ev atthe front in,- iio .pcrt pu i. t e :c bmet. enclosure. l.v

o the. iq wardlvrmq inemw'orcont mers. and it s a tes ed-to IB l '& $ihe1eacontain rin upright position, and drop the container under rav ty iced. into. artdiscbareereceptac e: 3 o e ow shape. aad a nastop 33,--f0 t e conminer The discharge .igeceptacleuis. mounted in the front wall ofsthecabinet and it is. provided with, an open; front-for ready accesseof the purchaser of the container which comfesito;rest-against the st p- ;-v

For convenience in adjustment, the chute 3! 5. mount d by brackets; sand slot connections,

in order that it may correctly; belocated in posi-...

' The delivery empty switch 42 is mounted belowthe "switch "4i and is operated simultaneously with switch 4!. These switches are initially cont ro1llecl'jby meansgoj'a replacement bar or yoke '43, whichfexteiidsilongitudinally of the delivery belt I! and over-the center of the delivery belt, and with its inturned ends pivoted at 44, upon th'e main fraine ahd at one side of the delivery belt,

The pivoted yoke 43 isheld in uplifted position by contact with the sides of the containers in the delivery row on, the belt, an'diin this position, the'operating'switchllj opens the motor operating circuit.

In the absence "of containers on the delivery belt, the unsupported yoke swings down upon its pivots as a clnteltfthereby operating a switch lever -45whicl'ljh1a1s. a sliding pin and slot con.- nection 45 with therea'r end of the yoke.

The horizontally disposed switch lever 45 is pivoted at 'flon'anupright supporting bracket 48, and the lever isequip'ped with an. upright or angular operating arm 49 which co-acts with the two movable contacts stand 5|, respectively, of the switches 4i and 42..

A delivery cutoff switch 752', which is normally closed is mounted at. the lower end of the dis-. chargechute for controlling the delivery circuit in connection with the motor'z'l.

This. cut-off switch is activated by a vended container as it. passes. down through the --discharge chute 3.1, a'ndfor this purpose a depressible operating arniiiis located within the chute in the path oflthe, discharging, container, The arm isjfixed.tofafrock-ishaft 54.journalled in bracketj55, and a spring SS resiliently holdsthe depressible arm 'in 'the path. of the discharging container. One end oiv the rock shaft termimates in any angular movablerc'ontact arm 51 that swingsdown into frictional; engagement with a stationary contact blade "58: for closing the cut,

oil switchif52..

In loadingthecontainerslin the cabinet, they are initially 'alined on; the delivery belt with thetain the springprejssed lever arm parallel with,

the direction of jtravel-of the feed belt, and the storage empty switch}?! isin open circuit.

'When'a c'oinjis inserted in'ithecoin actuated mechanism (not shown), electrical connections are thereby closed. t rough. relay 63. toenergize the delivery motor Z1,' causing movement of the delivery belt .iTwithjits. rowIlof containers :toward thefrontfbafilefand.chute, 3;I. As the-first or leading container isidelivered by-the delivery belt, it falls by'gifavityj against. the discharge bafile 3|, and"thenceiisidepositedin the receptacle32,

passing, Q itaqtfwlthjhe cutoff. arm 53.;

the'container" opensthe cut dff switch 52', theregreases;

flowing to the machine, and placing the machine in condition for the insertion of another coin and a succeeding vending operation, which operations are repeated as long as any containers remain upon the delivery belt. a

As the last container in the delivery row is vended, the unsupported replacement yoke 43 swings down and causes closing movement of the feed switch 4| for operating the motor '8, whereupon the conveyer flight of the feeding belt is moved toward the delivery belt, thus forcing a row of containers from the feed belt to the transfer plate 29 and thence to the delivery belt.

In this movement the front row of containers presses against the replacement yoke, forcing it into an upward position, thereby breaking the circuits to both the feed switch 4| and the de-- livery empty switch 42.

-The last row of containers on the feed beltmay be transferred to the delivery belt by means of a weight 59 movably supported by an inclined ramp 59' secured to the cabinet I, and adapted to extend transversely across the rear end of the feed belt, and having a forwardly projecting extension 60 equaling the width, of the transfer plate 29 contacting the last row of containers. As the last row of containers travels forwardly with the storage feed belt, the weight 59, by gravityymoves into position on the feed belt, and will remain in engagement with the last row" on the feed belt, to force the last row of containers over the rest plate 29 onto the delivery belt.

When the last row of containers has been forced from the feed belt to the delivery belt,

thus releasing the empty-arm 36, torsion spring 40 swings the arm back into position of Figure 2, thus closing its operating circuit.

When the last container is discharged from the delivery chute from the delivery belt, the replacement yoke 43 swings down thereby closing the switch 42 as previously described.

In the electrical diagram, storage empty switch 35 and delivery empty switch 42 are closed in series when the machine is empty of containers, and both of these switches are connected to a relay 6| for its activation, and the opening and closing of the switch 42 is controlled by the movement of the replacement bar or yoke 43.

Referring to the electrical diagram of Figure 7, upon the insertion of a coin into the coin operated mechanism, electrical contact is made at 62 in series with one of the main electric lines, and with the main operating relay 63, thus closing the operating circuit and energizing the delivery motor 2! to initiate a vending operation. Under these conditions, a coin blocking magnet 64 is de-energized to permit automatic closing of a barrier or finger (not shown) that closes the entrance to the coin chute.

During delivery and discharge of the vended container, the delivery cut-01f switch 52 breaks the circuit of the main operating relay 63, delivery motor 2'! is de-energized, and the coin blocking magnet is automatically re-energized by this action, and coin barrier or finger is retracted from the coin chute, thus re-setting the coin operated mechanism for another vending operation.

An empty condition of the machine is indicated to a customer by means of an electric lamp 64A, which is visible when illumined, and including in a lighting circuit under control of the emptyrelay 6|, at which time all current ceases to flow within the machine, except current in the elec- 15 tro"-magnetic-,- empty=, relay coil and the lighta change-over-electrical equipment is utilized, to

successively control the operations of the multiple units, as well as for simultaneously controlling two operating units.

v This changeover equipment is under control of manually operated switches 68, 69, 10, II and 12 and a three prong polarizedplug and socket connection at 65 and 65 in Figure 8 which connects with main line and empty relay terminals on the terminal boards 66 and 61 of the upper and lower level units. I

, One electrical contact is established to both the upper and the lower levels through sockets 65 and 65 by closing manually operated switch 68 of the changeover circuit, and the second electrical contact to the upper level circuit will be energized through relay 6| by the opening of the storage empty switch -35 and the delivery empty switch 42 when the top level is loaded with products. This will completely energize the upper level and leave the lower level with only one electrical contact closed, that through switch 68 of the changeover circuit.

When storage empty switch of upper level 35 and'delivery emptyswitch 42 are in closed po sition by reason .of upper level having been emptied of its products, the second electrical con tact to lower level will be energized through redownward position, exactly the reverse of the above cycle takes place, i. e., the lower level will operate first and when this level is empty, the upper level will become operative. If it be desired to operate both the upper level unit and the lower level unit simultaneously, switch 69 will be opened and switch in will be closed, and switch 1| will be closed and switch 12 open, thus connecting the main line 13 directly to the closed terminals 18 and 15 of the upper level 65 and connecting terminals 16 and 11 to the lower level 65'.

It will be noted that the main electric lines 13 enter the operating circuits through a fuse I4, and the main manually operated switch 68, the latter being provided to break the main electric line to the machine when necessary, as for repairs.

As previously indicated, various changes may be made in the mechanical structures and operating devices, as well as in the electrical arrangements herein disclosed, within the scope of my appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a vending machine as described, the combination with a storage feed belt and its containers, a delivery belt and its containers, a motor for driving the storage feed belt, and an operating'circuit for the motor including a control switch, of a pivotally mounted replacement yoke co-acting with the containers on the delivery belt for opening the control switch, and automatic means operative in the absence of belt, of an electric I a drive between the m btbifanid t operating circuit for the switch therein, a pivdta'iiy n x v liq-act: ing with containerson th deiivei'ifjbeit freer-en dering inoperative m "a'tier means-co-acting wit mbtor operative in the fiisfic f' 'cantace containers with the yc'xke': I

3. In an article dispensing d in; cbmbinatimi'a cabinet ported thefifiltstiag' an I rctajtably supported by sai adapted to c0htaina-'fi1h;fility me -absence 6pm "article on said delivery- 661i veybr fwili tree said ycike'for downward mdveni'nt toaetua'tesa'id first switch means thereby energizing said first power means for advancing saic stbfage' and iedin'g' conveyor whereby movement qr-said'stoiage an'dfeeding conveyor will deposit intermittently an successively an aligned row 61' eiftic'les dn s'aid delivery conveyor, a coin actujatii mechanism for initiating operation of said delivery conv yor by energizing said second ow ei -meainsga-dischaige chute adjacent the end -01! veryeonveyor for receiving an'article fr *the same b'ygravit'y from the chamber and? witch means in said chute and connected up; cdnd power means, said switch means extending ifitd the path 0f the discharged arti cle for actuation thereby to interrupt actuation of said? seccndfphvver means whereby said delivery qorw 'ybr" vi ili dispense said row of articles singly; v

EVERETT J. NEWCOMER.

REFERENCES CITED fhieffllaw ijnlreferences are of reeord in the tile of patent: I 4

UNITED STATES PATENTS ii nihi' Name e 11200344 Sears Oct. a, 1916 '1',355';488 McKenney Oct. 12, 1920 

